Grating construction

ABSTRACT

A grating construction in which the grating members include upper portions defining vertical slots and lower portions defining angular slots, the spacing being such that any particle having a width and length less than the spacing of the upper portions will pass through the lower portions; however, the angular relation between the upper and lower portions prevents passage of an elongated member therethrough.

nited States atent n 1 Moose Budlong 1 y 9, 1972 [s41 GRATINGCONSTRUCTION 3,528,210 9/1970 Johnson et a1. ..52/667 [72] Inventor:Oscar A. Budlong Santa Ana Cam, 3,530,781 9/1970 Kesmger ..52/20 [73]Assignee: Brooks Products, Inc., El Monte, Calif. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATONS J v Sweden [21] Appl. No.: 50,526 Primary Examiner-Henry C.Sutherland Atl0rney-Ly0n & Lyon [52] U.S. C l. ..52/669, 52/656 57]ABSTRACT [51] lnt.Cl.. ..E0lc 9/10 581 Field of Search ..52/656, 660,662, 664-669, A grating construction in which the g g members include52/19 20 2 l 659 upper portions defining vertical slots and lowerportions defining angular slots, the spacing being such that anyparticle hav- [56] References Cited ing a width and length less than thespacing of the upper portions will pass through the lower portions;however, the an gu- UNITED STATES PATENTS lar relation between the upperand lower portions prevents passage of an elongated member therethrough.3,479,777 11/1969 Schack ..52/666 1,958,995 5/1934 Green ..52/666 4Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9 r972 4 AZ r r /g r f 7/ INVENTOR. 05 6142 ,4. 505.4 o/ve BY 6' 4 7'7'08/1/ Y5 GRATINGcous'rauc'nou BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Grating structures are oftenrequired to protect equipment which requires ventilation an which mightbe damaged or which may be dangerous if touched; for example,transformers and other electrical equipment pose this problem.Conventional grates serve to protect such equipment from direct contactby a person but do not prevent such person from forcing a stick of woodor a bar of metal through the grate. Attempts to provide deflectors havebeen made; however, the spacing is reduced, causing objects which enterthe outer portion of the grate to wedge at the inner portion thereof andclog the grate. The equipment which requires a protective grate may beso constructed that such debris may fall through without damage to theequipment; however, if excessive clogging occurs, the circulation of airaround the equipment will be reduced to the point that excessive heatingwill occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a solution tothis problem and is summarized in the following objects:

First, to provide a grating construction wherein the minimum spacingbetween the grating bars occurs at the entrance ends of the openingstherebetween so that any essential spherical objects, such as pebbles,may fall through.

Second, to provide a grating construction, including an outer gratesection having openings disposed normal to the surface, and an innersection having angularly disposed openings of at least the same width asthe normal openings and so arranged that an elongated rigid object suchas a wood or metal rod cannot pass therethrough and if the rod isflexible, it is laterally deflected by the grate to prevent or minimizethe danger incidental to contact with critical portions of theequipment.

Third, to provide a grating construction in which grating memberspresent flat outer surfaces to provide improved shoe support and sospaced as to minimize the possibility of spike heels becoming wedged inthe grate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, showingone embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken through 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to FIG.2, showing a pair of the grate units.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, corresponding to FIG.2, showing another embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 5 is a similar fragmentary transverse sectional view, showing afurther embodiment of the grate construction.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the grate construction shownin FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to the previoussectional views, showing a still further embodiment of the grateconstruction.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing one grate unit of theconstruction shown in FIG. 7.

Reference is first directed to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In the constructionhere illustrated, a frame comprising a pair of end members 1 and sidemembers 2 enclose the grate construction. The grate constructionincludes a set of upper grate members 3 which may be channel shaped incross section and disposed with their ends resting on the end members 1.The upper grate elements or members are welded or otherwise secured toone or more connecting bars 4, depending upon the size of the grateconstruction, and form therebetween venting slots 5.

Joined to the lower sides of the connecting bars 4 is a set of lowergrate members 6 in the form of relatively thin slats which are welded tothe undersides of the connecting bars underneath the upper grate members3 and in angular relation thereto. If desired, the lower grate members 6may be notched to receive the connecting bars so that their upper edgesmay be welded directly to the upper grate members 3. The lower gratemembers 6 form venting slots 7 therebetween which communicate withcorresponding venting slots 5 between the upper grate members 3.

The relative widths of the grate members 3 and the grate members 6 aresuch that the width of the venting slots 7 is at least equal to thewidth of the venting slots 5 and may, if desired, be slightly greater.As a result, any spherical object or essentially spherical object suchas a pebble or the like which will pass between the upper grate members3 through a venting slot 5 will fall on through the correspondingventing slot 7. The angularrelation of the grate members 3 and 6 is suchthat the straight rod cannot be thrust through the grate construction.Stated otherwise, the apex 8 formed at the bottom corner of each uppergrate member 3 lies adjacent to or beyond a plane 9 passing between theedges 10 and 11 of the upper grate member 3 and lower grate member 6, asindicated in FIG. 3. While a bendable rod or shaft might be thrustbetween adjacent grate units or members, the effect is to bend such arod into an are, causing to curve upwardly and away from whateverequipment may be guarded by the grate construction. The flat relativelywide upper edges of the upper grate member 6 provide a firm andcomfortable surface on which to walk and minimize the chance that even awoman's spike heel would be forced between the grate members.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 4. In this construction, the uppergrate members 12 are in the form of rectangular bars of greaterthickness than the lower grate members 6. Also, the proportions of theupper grate members are such that the venting slots 5 and 7 are at leastequal.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 5 and 6. In this construction,rectangular upper grate bars 13 are used similar to those in FIG. 4. Inthis case, however, a set of grate strips 14 are used, each of which isfolded longitudinally to provide angularly related upper portions 15 andlower portions 16. the upper portions 15 are suitably secured to thegrate bars 13. Again, the resulting construction is such that theventing slots 7 are equal to or wider than the venting slots 5. Also, inthis construction, the connecting bars 4 may be set in notches providedalong the upper margins or edges of the grate bars 13 and correspondingupper edges of the grate strips 14.

Reference is now directed to FIGS. 7 and 8. In this construction, singlepiece grate bars 17 are provided which may be in the fonn of extrusions.Each grate bar 17 is longitudinally folded or extruded to form anangularly related upper portion 18 and lower portion 19. The thicknessof each grate bar 17 tapers from its upper edge toward its lower edge insuch a manner that the venting slots 20 tend to increase in widthdownward.

It will be noted that all of the embodiments illustrated have in commonthe features noted in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3; that is, each embodiment has means to block the insertion of arod through the grate structure and to deflect a flexible rod shouldsuch a member be forced through the grate construction. Also, virtuallyall debris which may pass through the upper side of the grateconstruction falls through the grate construction rather than hanging upor wedging within the boundaries of the grate construction.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A grate construction, comprising:

a. an upper portion including a set of spaced, vertically disposedrelatively wide surface elements presenting a flat walking surface onthe upper edges thereof the spaces between the upper edges of thesurface elements constituting vent slots and load supporting elementstraversing the surface elements, said surface elements formingtherebetween upper vertical vent passages continuing downwardly from thevent slots;

b. and a lower portion including a set of relatively thin deflectingelements disposed in parallel relation to each other but slopingtransversely in angular relation to the surface elements, the upperportions of the deflecting elements being substantially aligned withrespective surface elements, the deflecting elements formingtherebetween lower vent passages in continuing angular relation to theupper vent passages;

. the upper and lower vent passages being at least as wide as the ventslots whereby an essentially spherical object capable of passing a ventslot will fall freely through the upper and lower vent passages;

d. the lower edges of the deflecting elements underlying at least thelower portions of the surface elements next adjacent thereto, wherebythe angular paths between said surface elements and said deflectingelements precludes the passage of a substantially rigid linear membertherethrough.

2. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. the load supporting elements are cross-bars extending between the setof surface elements and the set of deflecting elements in transverserelation to the elements, said cross bars being welded to the respectivesets and maintaining them in fixed spaced relation.

3. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. each of the outer surface elements includes a bar member and theupper portion of a deflecting element, the lower portions of thedeflecting elements being in angular relation to the upper portions.

4. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

a. each surface element and a corresponding deflecting element aremonolithic and the width thereof tapers from the upper extremity of thesurface element to the lower extremity of the deflecting element.

i i I l

1. A grate construction, comprising: a. an upper portion including a setof spaced, vertically disposed relatively wide surface elementspresenting a flat walking surface on the upper edges thereof the spacesbetween the upper edges of the surface elements constituting vent slotsand load supporting elements traversing the surface elements, saidsurface elements forming therebetween upper vertical vent passagescontinuing downwardly from the vent slots; b. and a lower portionincluding a set of relatively thin deflecting elements disposed inparallel relation to each other but sloping transversely in angularrelation to the surface elements, the upper portions of the deflectingelements being substantially aligned with respective surface elements,the deflecting elements forming therebetween lower vent passages incontinuing angular relation to the upper vent passages; c. the upper andlower vent passages being at least as wide as the vent slots whereby anessentially spherical object capable of passing a vent slot will fallfreely through the upper and lower vent passages; d. the lower edges ofthe deflecting elements underlying at least the lower portions of thesurface elements next adjacent thereto, whereby the angular pathsbetween said surface elements and said deflecting elements precludes thepassage of a substantially rigid linear member there-through.
 2. Agrating construction, as defined in claim 1, wherein: a. the loadsupporting elements are cross-bars extending between the set of surfaceelements and the set of deflecting elements in transverse relation tothe elements, said cross bars being welded to the respective sets andmaintaining them in fixed spaced relation.
 3. A grating construction, asdefined in claim 1, wherein: a. each of the outer surface elementsincludes a bar member and the upper portion of a deflecting element, thelower portions of the deflecting elements being in angular relation tothe upper portions.
 4. A grating construction, as defined in claim 1,wherein: a. each surface element and a corresponding deflecting elementare monolithic and the width thereof tapers from the upper extremity ofthe surface element to the lower extremity of the deflecting element.